Darro – Rock Art, Megaliths and Landscape
Accommodation in Darro
Darro brings together Andalusian and some Manchegan architectural styles in its town centre. The destination also offers scenic views around Anchurón and prehistoric remains at Panoria and Cueva Horá. Depending on your travel interests, the focus may be on local architecture, landscape, archaeological features or the patron saint festivities.
Landscape and rock shelters
In the AnchurĂłn area, views open out over the countryside, with extensive olive groves and colourful vineyards. Reaching the viewpoint involves driving along unpaved roads; four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended. The Abrigos de PanorĂa are a group of five large rock shelters visible from Darro. They can be reached via unpaved tracks, and four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended here too.
One of the shelters contains a preserved anthropomorphic rock painting of the “swallow” type. It is the only surviving painting in the group. The rock shelters therefore differ not only in their number and size, but also in this distinctive archaeological detail.
Megalithic tombs and their chronology
The megalithic necropolis of Panoria comprises 19 documented tombs, five of which have been excavated. Their burial chambers are made of orthostats and have trapezoidal, polygonal or rectangular floor plans. Short entrance corridors are also part of their architectural design. The different layouts offer a tangible insight into the forms of these tombs.
The necropolis was used from the Late Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age. Its most intensive ritual activity took place during the Copper Age. Panoria can therefore be understood both through its surviving structures and its long history of use.
Cueva Horá
The archaeological site of Cueva Horá is in Darro, in the province of Granada. It is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC) in the archaeological zone category; it was designated on 12 February 2002. The archaeological sequence extends from the end of the Lower Palaeolithic to later prehistory. Geologically, Cueva Horá is a rock shelter in the form of a natural bridge with a steep gradient.
Panoria and Cueva Horá offer different chronological reference points: the stated period of use for the necropolis runs from the Late Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age, while the sequence at Cueva Horá begins at the end of the Lower Palaeolithic. Those interested in prehistory will find a range of archaeological themes and features in Darro.
Patron saint festivities in October
The patron saint festivities in honour of San Tiburcio and Nuestra Señora del Amparo take place from 1 to 4 October. On 2 October, after Mass, the procession in honour of the Virgen del Amparo is carried exclusively by women. The following day, San Tiburcio is carried through the streets of Darro after Mass; the statue is carried exclusively by men.
The two processions have different focuses during the festivities: one is dedicated to the Virgen del Amparo, the other to San Tiburcio. If you are planning your trip around the celebrations, check the current festival calendar in advance.
A route through Darro
The Sierra route Camino Al PaleolĂtico (SL-A 032) passes through Darro. It complements the town’s archaeological attractions with a route whose passage through Darro may be of particular interest when planning your trip. Together with the architecture in the town centre, the landscape around AnchurĂłn and the archaeological sites, it offers several distinct focuses for a stay.
Discover more destinations: La Ermita, Alquife, Alamedilla, Cortes De Baza, BubiĂłn, Velilla-Taramay, Atarfe, Diezma.
For the broader travel overview: Granada.
